Chapter 23: A Simple Trade

They entered the main room of Castle Oblivion to an interesting scene. Dead center of the room was a Marluxia Replica, who had his scythe at Joseph's throat. Everyone else was standing around, angrily glaring at him (the Marluxia Replica, not Joseph). Riku glanced over at 29, who had his shield out and quite the glare on his face. Riku instantly felt sorry for the Marluxia Replica.

However, he still drew his blade.

"Hey!" the Marluxia Replica shouted, noticing this. "One step closer and the kid gets it!"

"Ah… that's why no one's attacked…" Riku muttered.

"Riku, what are we going to do?" Namine asked.

Riku turned to her, a bit shocked. She sounded really worried. Riku swallowed, unsure of what to say. He wasn't used to this. However, he quickly regained his composure.

"It'll be fine," he assured her, trying his best to sound cool. "This practically happens every day. We'll figure it out."

Sora jabbed him in the ribs at this, and he turned to Sora. Sora just smiled, eyebrows raised. Riku rolled his eyes.

"Not now!" he hissed.

Sora just shook his head and smiled.

"What do you want?" Riku asked the Marluxia Replica, ignoring Sora's laughter. Sora's laughter was very quiet, but still very distracting.

"A simple trade, nothing more," the Marluxia Replica replied.

Riku raised his eyebrows.

"The boy's life, for her,"

"Me?" Namine gasped, a bit shocked.

It was obvious that the Marluxia Replica was referring to her. Who else would he be referring to? Namine was who Saix wanted captured, and also the only girl in the room. So, he had to be referring to her.

No!

Riku wanted to scream.

But he couldn't.

Joseph.

I can't let him take Namine!

But I can't let him kill Joseph…

This is just cruel.

"Don't do it!" Joseph shouted, finally managing to pull the Marluxia Replica's hand away from his mouth. "It's not a fair trade! I'm not worth that!"

"Joseph!" 29 scolded.

"What?" he asked. "I'm not! I'm sure my death would be less painful than whatever the heck Saix might do to Namine if we let this jerk here take her." He nodded at the Marluxia Replica as he said this.

"Be quiet!" the Marluxia Replica snapped.

"You're just a filthy coward!" Joseph snapped back. "You should be quiet."

"Joseph!" Riku shouted. "You're not helping!"

It was true, Joseph was definitely not helping.

I have to protect Namine! Riku's thoughts were screaming.

But… Joseph…

This is just… this is…

Riku sighed.

"Joseph," he said. "It is not going to come down to you having to die. We'll figure this out somehow."

"So you're going to hand over Namine, then?" the Marluxia Replica asked.

"Well, uhh-" Riku began.

"Why?" Namine asked, interrupting him. "I mean, I know Saix wants me captured for some reason, and I'm not sure if I want to know why. I want to know why you're doing this. Did Saix send you?"

Riku shook his head. "He's been here a while."

"Then why is he doing this?" Namine turned back to the Marluxia Replica and frowned. "Are you a double agent or something?"

The Marluxia Replica shook his head. "Well, no actually, I only joined this stupid Rebellion in the first place because half my brethren decided that they just didn't like me when Saix took charge."

"I liked you!" another Marluxia Replica shouted.

"Well I never liked you," the Marluxia Replica that had a hold of Joseph replied. He turned back to Namine. "I just figured if I did this they might stop hating me. Even if I don't manage to capture you, if I get rid of the kid I'm sure someone might be- wait, why am I explaining this to you?"

"That is a very good question," some Vexen Replica said, turning to Namine. "Why is he explaining this to you?"

Namine shrugged. "I managed to get 17 to spill his guts, too, though… I wish I had questioned him sooner, considering-" she shook her head. "Nothing."

Riku raised his eyebrows. "No, what is it?" he asked, worry creeping into his tone.

"Oi! Mr. 'I can't focus on anything but Namine'!" Joseph shouted. "I've still got a scythe at my throat! I thought you said you were going to figure out a way where I wasn't going to die!"

"I thought you wanted me to kill you!" the Marluxia Replica asked, sounding generally confused.

"Well, if Riku has a way to figure this out, then I trust him!" Joseph replied.

"Uhh…" Riku muttered.

"Oh, so he has a plan, does he?" the Maluxia Replica said with a smirk. "It sure seems like-"

Whack!

29, sick of this entire thing, had come up behind the Marluxia Replica and whacked him with his shield. Joseph quickly dodged out of the way, and the Marluxia Replica collapsed.

"Oh look!" Sora laughed. "Your plan worked out quite well, Riku."

Riku turned to him, and frowned.

Sora was teasing him.

A few Vexen Replicas came over and dragged the Marluxia Replica off.

"Ooh!" Joseph exclaimed. "It's been a while since we've thrown anyone out! I wanna watch!"

Namine turned to Riku, confused.

"There's sort of a… ritual… when we throw people out of the Rebellion," Riku explained, though he didn't sound sure about his explanation. "Well, we just throw them out the front door. It's nothing special, Joseph just finds it amusing for some reason. You want to see? It's not really exciting…"

"Sure…" Namine replied slowly.

"Okay then," Riku said, leading her after the crowd that was leaving the main room.

Sora caught him by the arm before he got far.

"Smooth one back there," Sora laughed.

"What?" Riku asked.

"Don't think I didn't notice. You were trying to be cool to impress Namine."

"Was not!"

"Hey, what are you two arguing about?" Joseph asked, coming over.

"Nothing," Riku replied quickly. "But for your information, I can focus on more than just Namine."

"Uh-huh," Joseph said, not convinced one bit. "You were totally like: 'Oh, Namine sounds upset, I should ask what's wrong. Forget the fact that Joseph's about to die!'"

"It's not like-" Riku began, and then paused. "You said you trusted me!" he said, but only because he was grasping for something to say.

"I only said that to help you with the trying to impress Namine thing," Joseph laughed.

"I wasn't-" Riku began, again. However, Joseph interrupted him.

"Though, it's not like I don't trust you or anything," Joseph continued, as if Riku hadn't said anything. "I just know now to trust you less when Namine's around, because apparently you can't think straight if she's anywhere near you."

"I'm not like that!" Riku said, sounding very annoyed.

Joseph turned to Sora with a win. "I told you," he laughed. "I'm so going to win!"

"Win what!" Riku asked, very confused. "What are you-"

"Riku!" Namine called, interrupting his sentence. "Are you coming?"

Riku turned to her, a smile spreading across his face. "Yeah, I'm coming!" he called, running after her.

"And you're going to win, huh?" Sora asked, turning to Joseph.

"He still seems pretty clueless though," Joseph muttered.

Sora was silent for a moment.

"What happens if he ends up realizing it in a month and a half?" Sora asked suddenly. "Who wins the bet then?"

Joseph frowned. "Uh… we play rock paper scissors?"

xxx

"No!" the Marluxa Replica was shouting as he was being dragged to the front door of Castle Oblivion. "No! Please don't! I have nowhere to go!"

"Should have thought about that sooner," 29 laughed. "You aren't accepted here anymore, and from the sounds of it Saix won't take you either. Have fun being a rogue!"

"You're cruel!" the Marluxia Replica whined.

29 sighed. "You sound like Joseph…" he muttered, walking away.

With that, the Marluxia Replica was thrown out of Castle Oblivion.

"See, I told you it wasn't exciting," Riku laughed, turning to Namine. He then frowned, noting the look on her face.

She looked as if she was fighting off pain (a look that Riku knew very well).

"Are you-" he began, but his sentence wasn't finished. Namine suddenly gasped in pain and then collapsed.

Riku bit his lip, unsure of what to do for a moment. Finally he just picked her up and carried her to her room.

What was going on?